The Los Angeles Dodgers have established themslves as the team of the decade.
In just six seasons, they’ve captured three titles and are now on the verge of pulling off the sport’s first three-peat in 25 years. LA has all the tools and pieces to do just that and build on the dynasty they have already established.
The Dodgers have done it all, but a three-peat would certainly cement themsleves in basbeall lore. Los Angeles is the favroite to do just that, but it is no secert that they need to upgrade their outfield.
LA’s outfield was atrocious last season, especially on the defensive side of things. The outfield collectively generated low WAR, with players like Teoscar Hernandez and Michael Conforto being huge disappointments with their glove.
Because of that, an outfield upgrade is vital, which is why MLB broadcaster Jenny Cavnar believes LA should go ahead and pursue former Dodgers MVP and champion, Cody Bellinger.
“I think their biggest competition is going to be the reigning World Series champs,” Cavnar said. “You want to talk about a reunion? He could either reunite in New York and go right back and run it back, or have him watch him from the other coast. I remember when I was a Dodger in 2020, we didn’t have a big celebration like they’ve had the past two years. Man, you know the sunshine, playing I Love LA after games. I think the West Coast can lure him back, I think that can be a very interesting fit.”
There are some rumblings out there that the Dodgers could make a move on the 2019 National League MVP. Bellinger fits the Dodgers needs of a corner outfielder; however, it is unclear how serious their pursuit is.
Bellinger was a Dodger for the first six seasons of his career, and it was quite the roller coaster. His first three seasons were nothing short of spectacular, slashing .278/.368/.559 with a .928 OPS along with 111 homeruns, 288 RBIs and 443 hits in 1841 plate appearances. In that span, Bellinger was named a two-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year in 2017, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and won NL MVP.
His next three seasons in LA were dreadful as his numbers and productivity dropped dramatically. Still, Bellinger has found his groove since leaving LA, and with the Dodgers needing a major upgrade in the outfield, there’s a real shot that the two sides could reunite.
Warriors Eye Unlikely Target as Trade Season Heats Up
The Golden State Warriors have spent most of this trade cycle circling the same tier of names.
Michael Porter Jr.
Trey Murphy III
Herb Jones
Nic Claxton
Daniel Gafford
Robert Williams III
They all fit a familiar idea. Defensive value. Positional clarity. Players who either raise the ceiling or stabilize a weakness.
On Wednesday, a different name entered the conversation. One that feels less like a swing for upside and more like a reflection of how the market may actually break.
According to ClutchPoints reporter Brett Siegel, the Warriors are among several teams “keeping an eye on” Bobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks.
It is not the kind of rumor that dominates headlines.
But it does say something about where Golden State is looking.
Multiple teams around the league are keeping an eye on the Bucks and a potential big move they make, which could involve unloading Bobby Portis’ contract.
Portis has many suitors around the NBA as a potential buy-low target for the Hornets, Suns, Warriors, and others. https://t.co/MOKd85Nxaa
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) January 7, 2026
Why the Golden State Warriors Are Expanding Their Trade Search
GettyGolden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
The Warriors are stuck in an uneasy middle.
Competitive enough to stay relevant. Unsettled enough to feel exposed.
Jonathan Kuminga becoming trade-eligible opens pathways, but it does not guarantee leverage. The players Golden State would ideally target come with defensive versatility, size, or long-term value. Those are exactly the profiles teams hesitate to move without pressure.
Portis exists in a different category.
At 30, he is in the first season of a three-year, $43.6 million deal. He is shooting a career-high 47.3 percent from three
. In just over 23 minutes per game, he is averaging 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds.
He stretches the floor, scores without hijacking possessions, and brings an edge that shows up quickly.
What he does not do is cleanly solve one of the Warriors’ biggest needs.
What a Golden State Trade for Bobby Portis Could Involve
GettyBobby Portis of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after being charged with a foul against the
Atlanta Hawks.
Siegel noted that Portis landing in Golden State would almost certainly require a multi-team structure rather than a direct Warriors-Bucks deal.
One hypothetical framework involved a broader shuffle where a Bucks-Kings trade creates a rerouting opportunity tied to Kuminga.
An example construction looked like this:
- Bucks receive: Zach LaVine, Trayce Jackson-Davis
- Warriors receive: Bobby Portis, Kevin Porter Jr.
- Kings receive: Jonathan Kuminga, Kyle Kuzma
From Golden State’s perspective, the appeal is clear.
Portis adds frontcourt shooting. Kevin Porter Jr. brings bench scoring at 18.6 points per game.
Both address real deficiencies. Neither fundamentally reshapes the roster.
That distinction matters.
Why Golden State Would Still Aim Higher
If the choice were clean, this would not be the lane Golden State prefers.
The Warriors would rather pursue Myles Turner than Portis. They would rather land a true rim protector or a scoring wing who can defend across positions.
Portis is more complicated.
He struggles to stay in front of true wings. Rim protection is not his calling card. His value comes as a scorer who lives in the margins.
That does not make him ineffective. It makes him specific.
And specificity is a tough sell when the roster already lacks defensive certainty.
When the Warriors Market Starts to Tighten
The problem is not preference. It is availability.
Brooklyn may decide to keep Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton. New Orleans may refuse to part with Trey Murphy III or Herb Jones.
Milwaukee, meanwhile, remains focused on win-now adjustments to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo aligned long-term.
That is how trade boards compress.
When ideal targets stay put, teams drift toward acceptable ones. Portis fits that description. Not inspiring. Not disastrous. Just realistic.
Even then, Golden State would likely explore options like Jerami Grant or Daniel Gafford before settling into a Portis-centered outcome.
Final Word for the Warriors
This is what the middle looks like.
Not every trade rumor points upward. Some reflect the limits of timing and leverage. Bobby Portis is not a franchise-altering solution. He is a signal.
A signal that the Warriors are surveying every layer of the market, not just the glamorous tier. A signal that Kuminga’s value may eventually be shaped more by availability than preference.
If a cleaner fit emerges, Portis will fade from the picture.
If the options narrow, his name may rise to the top.
In a season defined by uncertainty, every move counts, including the ones that don’t immediately seem like the perfect fit.